Wheel-plow.



No. 655,483. Patnt'd Au 7, I900. L. P. GRAHAM.

WHEEL PLOW.

(Application filed June 9, 1900.)

(No mail. 2 Sheets-Sheei I M llllllllillllllllll hlllllllllHlllllll l1 No. 655,483. Patented Aug. 7, I900.

L. P. GRAHAM. WHEEL PLOW.

(Application filed June 9, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheats-Sheet 2.

IHHHHHHH WHHIHHIHHIHUHl\UHIll I l 1 I l! (QM C @JMQQM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE@ LEVI P. GRAHAM, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE SATTLEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

WHEEL- 'OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

PLow.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,483, dated August 7, 1900.

Application filed June 9,1900.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI P. GRAHAM, of the city of Decatur, county of Macon, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVheel-Plows, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to plows having rear caster-wheels and front wheels that swing with the tongue; and the purpose of the invention is to provide means whereby the rear caster-wheel may be made to hold the plow from running too much to land and yet be free to turn at the ends of the field, the result being attained without imparting team wabble to the rear caster-wheel or imparting the side stress of the caster-wheel to the tongue.

The invention is exemplified in the struc: ture hereinafter described, and it is defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a plan of a right-hand plow-frame with my invention attached thereto, the tongue being shown in the position it occupies in plowing and the rear caster-wheel being held against swing in a direction to permit the plow to run excessively to land. Fig. 2 is also a plan of the plow-frame and the caster-controlling mechanism, but in that figure the tongue is swung in a direction to turn the plow away from the land and the caster-wheel is left free to turn toward the land and facilitate the turning operation.

A plowfram.e is represented in a general way at 1. At 2 is shown a bracket attached to a side of the plow-frame. The vertical extension 3 of axle 3 of wheel 7 is journaled in bracket 2. An arm 4 is fixed onto the upper end of axle extension 3. It has an arm 5, which in this instance is extended toward wheel 7-, and it has a horizontal pivot-pin on which the tongue 6 may swing vertically. A bracket 8 on the rear end of the plow-frame provides a bearing for the vertical extension 9 of the axle 9 of caster-wheel 10. An arm 11 is fixed onto the upper part of the axle extension 9, and it has a vertical boss, stud, or roller 12 on its swinging end. A rod or bar 13 is pivotally connected at its front end with extension 5 of the tongue-arm, and it extends rearward toward the extension or post 9. A

Serial No. 19,786. (No model.)

plate 14 is fastened to or formed on the rear end of the rod 13. It is longitudinally slotted at 16 to slide on a fixed bearing. It has a lateral extension 15, the salient surface of which is substantially parallel with the slot. It has a horn 17, extending rearward beyond the slot 16, and it has a head or socket 19 to receive the rod 13. The connection between rod 13 and the plate is preferably longitudinally adjustable, and the set-screw 20 suggests a means for providing the required adjustment. The upper end of the post 9 provides a convenient guide for the plate, and

in this embodiment of the invention the post is shown engaging the slot of the plate and providing a bearing on which the plate may slide.

When the tongue is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the lateral extension 15 of plate 11 is in position to impede swing of arm 11 beyond the point shown in this figure, and as the arm is rigid with the caster-wheel'shaft the caster-wheel is prevented from swinging in a direction to permit the plow to run excessively to land. The wabble of the tongue arising from the swing of the team in walking forward will give a slight back-and-forward motion to rod 13 and plate 1 1; but this will notbe sufficient to carry the parallel bearing-surface 15 out of contact with boss 12, and so the caster-wheel will retain its shown position regardless of the team wabble. The arm 11 must swing forward to accommodate the tendency of the plow to run to land, and it cannot swing forward from the position shown in Fig. 1 without movinginward. The bearing-surface 15 prevents inward swing of the arm and the stress of the caster-wheel is imparted to the plate in a sidewise direction and is resisted in part by post 9 or whatever bearing the plate may have and in part by the forward connection of rod 13. The sidewise stress of the arm on the plate and rod is taken up by the two posts 3 and 9, and the tongue is left free to swing in quick response to the movements of the team.

lVhen the tongue is turncd'to the right or from the land to an extent sufficient to move surface 15 out of the path of the swing of the tongue, the boss 12 will follow incline 18, as

to turn toward the land. After the plow is turned around the tongue will reassume the position shown in Fig. 1, and in doing so the incline 18 of plate 14 will force the arm outward until the boss is again in contact with surface 15.

In turning the plow toward the land or to the left in a right-hand plow the arm swings backward out of contact with the plate, and its swing is restricted by nothing until it strikes horn 17, if by any possibility it should swing so far. After the plow is righted after a turn in this direction the caster-Wheel will assume its operative position, with its arm in contact with plate 14, without any manipulation or outside influence.

The lateral extension of the arm 5 is preferably toward the wheel instead of in the opposite direction, and the Surface 15 is pushed back of the boss on the arm instead of pulled forward preparatory to a right turn. The advantages of the shown construction arelargely matters of detail, however, one being that the rod 13 moves in the direction of-the boss and so increases the extent of the swing of the arm, and another ad vantage being the greater available space in front of post 9 in which th boss may swing.

The plate 14 is virtually a part of rod or bar 13, asit is formed separate as a matter of convenience. The slot 16 aids in keeping the plate in position, but it is the wall of the slot or bearing-surface of the plate to the right of the post 9 that imparts the thrust of the arm to the post.

I claim 1. In a caster-controller for wheel-plows, the combination with an arm fixed on the vertical extension of the caster-wheel sh aft, of

in the path of the forward and inward swing of the caster-wheel arm when the plow is in an operative position.

2. In a caster-controller for wheel-plows,

the combination with an arm fixed on the 3. In a caster-controller for wheel-plows, I

the combination with an arm fixed on the vertical extension of the caster-wheel shaft and having a vertical bearing on its swinging end, of a tongue-controlled .rod and a slotted plate fastened to the rear end of the rod and mounted slidably on the vertical extension of the shaft of the caster-wheel, the

plate having a lateral. extension that lies in the path of the swing of the bearing of the arm while the plow is in operation and that moves outof such path while the plow is turning.

4:. In a caster-controller for wheel-plows, the combination with an arm as 11 fixed on the vertical extension of the caster-wheel shaft, of a plate as 14 controlled from the tongue such plate being slotted to slide on the pivot of the arm and provided with the lateral extension 15, the inclined surface 18 and the horn 17, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEVI P. GRAHAM.

IVitnesses:

R. E. DICKINSON, Rosa VOELOKER. 

